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How To Make Your Own Garlic PowderShopping seasonally is good for your taste buds, your wallet and for the farmers. One spice we use a lot in my home is garlic. I decided my resolution for the new year would be to grow more of what we eat. I’ve heard growing garlic is pretty easy and takes up little space but since I still have lots of bulbs on a beautiful garlic braid I bought last year, I thought learning to make my own garlic powder would be beneficial in my goal to reduce waste at home.

Things you will need:GarlicKnife or garlic peelerDehydrator or ovenGrinder, pestle and mortar or food processor

First a few tips BEFORE you begin making garlic powder.

Buy garlic when it is in season: late summer or early autumn. Garlic is available year-round, but you will get the freshest garlic at the best prices when you buy in season.

Think before using a plastic grinder. You can use a pestle and mortar, coffee grinder, spice grinder or a food processor but keep in mind that garlic is VERY pungent! The odor from garlic can be difficult to remove from small appliances especially those made with plastic. I have a coffee grinder I use specifically for for spices, I never use that grinder to blend coffee beans.

Pungent can overwhelm your home. My dehydrator is set up in the garage all the time. I like the smell of garlic and don’t mind the smell in my garage, but I may feel differently if my whole house smelled like garlic.

How To Make The Garlic Powder:First, peel the garlic cloves and cut into thin slices. Two handy tools I have owned for a long time is a garlic peeler and slicer. It was the best $20 I spent at a Pampered Chef party. Here is the link to Pampered Chef if you want to see the exact devices I’m referencing. http://bit.ly/2Tqgv8F

If you have these tools, now is the time to use them! If not, you can use the side of your knife to smash down the clove which will crack the skin and make skin removal easier, then slice the cloves into thin slices.Thinner slices will dry more quickly and evenly.

Place the garlic slices onto the food dehydrator sheet in a single layer, set the dehydrator to about 125 F and let it go for about 8 - 10 hours. If using your oven, heat the oven between 45°C (115°F) to 60°C (140°F) maximum. Place the garlic on parchment paper on a cookie sheet in a single layer. If your oven does not have a fan, you may need to keep the door open so the moisture can escape. Be careful not to heat the oven over 140 F or the garlic will discolor, cook and become bitter.

Test the garlic for doneness by breaking a chip between your fingers. When the chip snaps immediately and it feels brittle, they are done . If they bend, continue to dry and test the chips at least every 15 - 30 minutes until they reach the desired crispness.Once crispy, allow the garlic to cool. Then grind it to your desired consistency. You just made garlic powder!

​Storing your garlic powder:

Refill and old spice jar or use an air-tight container. Store with your spices. A cool, dry spot works best.

For the first week, shake the jar daily to evenly distribute any remaining moisture to prevent mold.

Properly dried garlic powder has a long shelf life of several years. If you make a lot of garlic powder at one time, you can freeze or vacuum pack the excess for longer storage.

Once finished making garlic powder, it is easy to make a separate jar of garlic salt. Simply take some of the garlic powder and add salt to taste. That’s it! Easy peasy garlic salt.I hope you are inspired to make your own garlic powder and garlic salt. xo Angie